Child Protection Consultant on Violence Against Children, 8971 Kosovo Office Child Protection, Duty Station Kosovo, National consultant, 6 months

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling.

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to address the persistent issue of violence against children (VAC) in Kosovo. Despite a strong legal and policy framework aligned with international standards, VAC remains a serious concern, often underreported and normalized within families and communities. The consultant will focus on understanding and mitigating these issues, particularly for marginalized groups. The role involves analyzing existing child protection mechanisms, identifying challenges in inter-sectoral coordination, municipal capacities, specialized services, and data systems. The ultimate goal is to contribute to more effective and coordinated responses to prevent and respond to violence against children, ensuring that all children, especially those from vulnerable backgrounds, have access to timely and quality protection services.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for analyzing the current landscape of violence against children (VAC) in Kosovo, identifying gaps and challenges in the existing child protection framework. This includes assessing the effectiveness of inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms among government bodies, NGOs, and other stakeholders involved in child protection. The consultant will evaluate the capacities of municipal-level child protection services and identify areas for improvement and capacity building. A key responsibility will be to examine the availability and accessibility of specialized services for children who have experienced violence, neglect, or exploitation. Furthermore, the consultant will analyze the fragmentation and limitations of child protection data systems, proposing recommendations for enhancement. The role involves engaging with various stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and community representatives, to gather insights and foster collaboration. The consultant will also be expected to contribute to the development of strategies and action plans aimed at strengthening child protection systems and reducing the incidence of violence against children, with a particular focus on marginalized communities.

Work Experience

Minimum of five years of working experience with governments, EU, UN, international agencies, or CSOs, focusing on human and children's rights, and child protection related to abused, neglected, and exploited children. Advanced academic degree in child protection and social policy, Law, social science, or psychology is also required.

Skills

Child Protection expertise, Violence Against Children (VAC) analysis, Inter-sectoral coordination, Municipal capacity assessment, Specialized service evaluation, Data system analysis, Stakeholder engagement, Strategy development, Report writing, Facilitation skills, Communication skills, Interpersonal relations

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